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Pvt. Leonard B. McKinley, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. George McKinley, of Polk, and husband of Mrs. Mabel McCarthy McKinley, of 236 Buffalo Street, was killed in action in Germany on Feb. 13, according to a War Department message received by his wife.
Details of the action in which Pvt. McKinley was killed were not given in the telegram, which said a confirming letter would follow.
Pvt. McKinley entered the Army on July 19, 1944, volunteering for immediate induction with a group of selective service men. He trained at Camp Blanding, Fla., until December, when he was home for a short time. Following his furlough he reported to Fort George Meade, Md., and shortly afterward was shipped overseas, landing in northern France on Jan. 11. He was serving with the Ninth Army when he was killed.
He was born and reared in Polk, but was a resident of Franklin several years before he entered service. Pvt. McKinley attended Polk school and was a member of the Polk Methodist Church.
In addition to his wife and parents he is survived by two children, Charles Robert, aged 4, and Carol Jeannette, aged 15 months, and one brother, LeRoy McKinley, of Polk.
Since getting into action in France he had been awarded an anti-tank badge and a marksmanship medal.
Aug. 4, 1945 - Widow of Franklin Soldier is presented with a Bronze Star.
Maj. A.R. Bullock, of the Pittsburgh sub-district, Third Service Command, was here on Friday, to present to Mrs. Mabel McKinley, the widow of Pvt. Leonard B. McKinley, a Bronze Star medal awarded to him by the War Department. The citation reads:
“For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Feb. 8, 1945, in the vicinity of --. During the initial phase of the attach, Company F, was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire. Pvt. McKinley volunteered to deliver a message from the section leader to a machine gun section, giving them the location of the enemy emplacement. Although mortally wounded by direct enemy fire, Pvt. McKinley successfully completed his mission. His exemplary conduct, and great personal courage were in accordance with the highest military traditions.”
Mrs. McKinley resides at 513 Grant Street.